RADAR CHECK: We have the classic case of random, scattered showers and thunderstorms across Alabama this afternoon. They are drifting slowly to the west/northwest, and some are producing heavy rain and gusty winds. But for most of the state, it is simply another hot, dry day with temperatures in the 90s. Scattered showers and storms end after sunset; lows will be in the 70s early Friday.

We will maintain a good chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms in the forecast during the afternoons and evenings daily through the Labor Day weekend. The key word is “random”; there’s no way of knowing in advance exactly when and where the showers pop up. Most of them will come from about 1 until 10 p.m., during the peak of the daytime heating process.

The chance of any given spot seeing a shower or thunderstorm is 25-35% Friday and 45-55% Saturday through Monday. Afternoon highs will be mostly in the mid 90s Friday and in the low 90s over the Labor Day weekend.

NEXT WEEK: The upper ridge breaks down and heat levels drop significantly. Highs will be mostly in the 80s Tuesday through Friday with scattered showers and storms each day.

TROPICS: A tropical wave over the central Tropical Atlantic is producing some disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Environmental conditions appear conducive for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form by early next week while it moves westward at 10 to 15 mph and approaches the Lesser Antilles.

The system is then forecast to move westward to west-northwestward across portions of the eastern Caribbean Sea during the middle of next week. The National Hurricane Center now gives it a 40% chance of development over the next seven days.

It’s way too early to know whether this will move into the Gulf of Mexico; it remains just something to watch now.

FOOTBALL WEATHER: UAB kicks off its season tonight, taking on Alcorn State at Protective Stadium in downtown Birmingham (kickoff at 7). There is some risk of a shower or thunderstorm during the first half; otherwise, the sky will be mostly fair with temperatures falling through the 80s, reaching the 70s by the fourth quarter. Jacksonville State will host Coastal Carolina tonight (kickoff at 7). A brief shower or storm is possible during the first half; otherwise, it will be mostly fair with temperatures falling through the 80s.

Alabama hosts Western Kentucky Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium (6 p.m. kickoff). A brief shower or storm can’t be ruled out during the first half; otherwise, the sky will be mostly fair with temperatures falling from near 89 degrees at kickoff to near 80 by the final whistle. Auburn will host Alabama A&M at Jordan-Hare Stadium (6:30 p.m. kickoff). Again, a shower or storm is possible during the first half; otherwise, it will be mostly fair with temperatures falling through the 80s.

Troy will host Nevada Saturday (6 p.m. kickoff). There’s some risk of a shower or storm during the first half; otherwise, the weather will be fair with temperatures falling from around 90 degrees at kickoff to near 80 by the final whistle.

ON THIS DATE IN 2005: Hurricane Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 storm over southeast Louisiana and Mississippi. The majority of the loss of lives in Katrina was due to flooding caused by fatal engineering flaws in the flood protection system, specifically the levee, around the city of New Orleans.

Eventually, 80% of the city, as well as large areas in neighboring parishes, were flooded for weeks. The flooding also destroyed most of New Orleans’s transportation and communication facilities, leaving tens of thousands of people who did not evacuate the city prior to landfall with little access to food, shelter and other basic necessities.

The coast of Mississippi suffered severe damage from wind and storm surge but received little national attention due to the situation in New Orleans. The death toll was 1,836 as a direct result of Katrina.

For more weather news and information from James Spann and his team, visit AlabamaWx.